CM, the future will be painful for some but not for others. No one will know for sure until the time passes. I tend to agree with your view. Gold and silver in your possession are safe haven plays. Good solid producers with a dividend stream will benefit greatly. Late stage development projects should, if the cards play out, do well. Political interference could throw a wrench in our plans. Not much that can be done about that except choose a stable geographic location. There is much doom and gloom out there concerning the US. Yes, Federal, State and Municipal governments are in rough shape. Devaluations, bankruptcy and debt liquidations are in store for the future. If we had a true free mkt economy the free mkt would nicely take care of distortions. There would be much pain but there would be rebirth through those who are able to pick through the ashes for great deals. At the present time, bailouts and other stimulus schemes are propping up the system as we know it. When it stops, the pain will be more widely felt. Out of this will be the rebirth of America. There will be new industries and leaders. Wages will be lower, the standard of living will fall but housing will become once again affordable (just a place to live) and not become an investment vehicle. Some manufacturing is coming back right now. It is a slow process. An investment group that I am involved with has just signed a Purchase Agreement for an industrial building that is considered pennies on the dollar. We will base our operations there and will have cut our costs considerably. The jobs created are relatively low paying but a house can be had for $50,000 in the area (needs some work though). This is the reset that is coming. It will be regional then go national. Michigan and Ohio are ripe for this rebirth. It is up to all of us to support our economy. Not wasteful spending but try to buy American first. I believe in trade between the nations but we need to make more at home, live a simpler lifestyle and think through the consequences of our actions. Cheers, Woody